Hello Moxie

Being a woman in tech and business is like walking a tightrope — and nobody tells you that until you're already up there. Hello Moxie is where women come to find their footing and turn the tightrope into a platform. One that starts with connection and community. In each episode, host Nicole Donnelly sits down with guests who draw on the stories of women who came before us. Because the women who changed the world weren't fearless. They were just done waiting for permission. If you're ready to stop performing and start leading on your own terms, you're in the right place. Ready to go deeper? Hello Moxie's mentorship cohort pairs you with senior women leaders and a community of peers just like you who get it. Learn more at hellomoxie.us.

Hello Moxie is a business podcast hosted by Nicole Donnelly, with 65 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Nicole Donnelly hosts Hello Moxie, a business show with 65 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #41

  Deborah Traficante, Cisco CEO John Chambers, and How to Lead, Negotiate & Build Unshakable Confidence

  Aug 18, 202657 minS2

  Host: Nicole Donnelly Guest: Deborah Traficante – Former VP of US Sales at Cisco Systems, Sales & Leadership Consultant…and one of the first women to help build the internet from the inside In this honest, no-BS episode of Hello Moxie, Nicole sits down with Deborah Traficante, a Cisco sales pioneer, mentor, and straight-talking leadership veteran, to explore what it actually takes to lead — and be believed — in rooms that weren't built for you. Deborah's story is hard-won — she joined Cisco in 1990 as one of the first two women hired into a 40-person global sales team, back when most people had never heard of the internet, let alone bet their career on it. She opens up about being underestimated at every rank, the double standards she navigated for decades, and what it really means to step into fear and speak up when the room is 95% men. This conversation is direct, funny, and ultimately empowering. Together, Nicole and Deborah explore: How Deborah broke into Cisco's internet sales division and spent a year earning credibility with buyers who saw her as "an empty suit" The moment a VP told the sales team to wear khakis and bring their wives — and how Deborah responded on the spot Why an HR mentor telling her "white males are going to hire white males, so it's your job" became her mission The leadership lesson that changed how she led as she rose the ranks: less control, more influence Deborah is a powerful example of what it looks like to live the Moxie Method in full bloom: from Step Into Fear to Shine. Key Takeaways: Confidence isn't a mindset trick — it's built through competence and preparation, especially when you're the one who has to prove it twice Being underestimated doesn't require a comeback line to survive it — sometimes success is the only response you need If you're one of the only women in the room, mentoring the next one isn't optional — it's the legacy that outlasts the title Real leadership means trading control for influence, and learning to let go of the reins as you rise Connect with Deborah Traficante: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-traficante-3377762a/ Mentioned in the Episode: The Moxie Method: https://hellomoxie.us/embracing-change-for-personal-growth/ -- Share your thoughts and questions If this episode moved you, we'd love for you to pass it along to a friend who needs to hear it — and if you've got 30 seconds, leaving a review helps way more women find their way to these conversations. It genuinely matters more than you'd think. Learn More About Hello Moxie Website: Women Empowerment & Inspiring Stories | Hello Moxie Connect with Nicole: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-donnelly-dmg/ Follow us on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hello-moxie-us Say hello Moxie.

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  Episode #40

  Trish Barber, Her Former Colleague, and How to Pivot, Upskill & Build a Meaningful Career

  Aug 4, 202657 minS2

  In this episode, we sit down with Trish Barber—founder of Three Ways Digital, author of Why Women Pivot , and President-Elect of Women in Technology—to discuss career change, professional growth, networking, leadership, and how to stay relevant in a rapidly changing world. With more than 30 years of experience spanning technology, media, marketing, and entrepreneurship, Trish shares the lessons she's learned from building businesses, navigating career pivots, and helping professionals create opportunities through relationships, adaptability, and lifelong learning. Whether you're considering a career change, recovering from a setback, exploring new opportunities, or looking for practical career advice, this conversation offers valuable insights on how to make confident career decisions and build a future-ready career. In this episode, we discuss: • Career change advice and navigating major career transitions • Why career pivots are becoming increasingly common • Transferable skills and professional reinvention • Networking fundamentals and relationship-building strategies • Leadership development and career growth • Women in technology and creating opportunities for advancement • Upskilling, adaptability, and the future of work • Mentorship, sponsorship, and building a strong professional network About Trish Barber: Trish Barber is the founder of Three Ways Digital, author of Why Women Pivot , and President-Elect of Women in Technology. She is a seasoned business leader with more than three decades of experience helping organizations grow through innovation, digital transformation, marketing strategy, and leadership development. If you're navigating a career change, exploring a new direction, or looking for practical networking tips and leadership insights, this episode is for you. #CareerChange #CareerAdvice #CareerPivot #NetworkingTips #LeadershipDevelopment #WomenInTech #ProfessionalGrowth #CareerDevelopment #Networking #FutureOfWork Share your thoughts and questions Join the Community Become a member and to stay up to date on the latest and greatest from Hello Moxie, plus get access to exclusive bonus content from our guests with every episode https://hellomoxie.us/member-registration/

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  Episode #39

  Karen Ann Bulluck, Her Mentor Laurie, & Trusting Your Own Resilience

  Jul 21, 202653 minS2

  Host: Nicole Donnelly Guest: Karen Ann Bulluck, Author of the Ascending Ladders Series, Executive Leader, Speaker What do 30 years in the boardroom, a fear of heights, and downhill skiing terrified out of your mind have in common? They're all part of Karen Ann Bulluck's story of learning to trust herself. In this episode of Hello Moxie, Karen Ann shares how three decades of climbing the corporate ladder — and the moments she almost lost herself doing it — became the foundation for a trilogy of novels, and a mission to help women lead with more humanity and less performance. From programming teams she couldn't actually code for, to becoming an Executive Vice President and Board Member, Karen Ann takes us through the inner conflicts that come with power: the isolation of leading, the gap between personal values and corporate demands, and the fear that shows up every time you're asked to do something new. This episode is packed with wisdom on somatic awareness, self-trust, and why the best leadership advice she ever got sounds nothing like a leadership book. You'll laugh, you'll get a little emotional, and you'll probably start paying attention to what your hands are doing the next time you're in a hard conversation. What You'll Learn Karen Ann's "moxie moment" — leaving a 30-year corporate career to write business fiction that tells the truth The difference between real fear and fear of something new — and how to tell them apart Why somatic awareness (yes, even doing the dishes) is a leadership skill, not a wellness trend How mutual mentorship works, and why your mentor doesn't need to outrank you What to do when your gut and your organization's expectations don't agree Why she believes leadership isn't about leadership skills — it's about being a better human being ✨ Karen Ann's Moxie Highlights Spent 30 years in corporate IT leadership before leaving to write full time Turned her own struggle with self-trust into a trilogy of novels that give women permission to feel the mess Reframes fear as a normal, universal signal — not a personal failing Emphasizes grounding and stillness as tools any woman can use in two minutes, not two hours About Karen Ann Bulluck Karen Ann is the bestselling author of the Ascending Ladders Series — Discovering Power , Pursuing Truth , and Embracing Trust — and a former Executive Vice President and Board Member at AM Best. After three decades in corporate leadership, she left to write business fiction exploring integrity, trust, and humanity in the workplace. She's a Certified Professional Coach, a Positive Intelligence Mastery graduate, and now mentors women through the Hello Moxie program. Connect with Karen Ann Bulluck Website: https://daringtotranscend.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenannbulluck/ Get her latest book- Embracing Trust: https://daringtotranscend.com/embracing-trust/ Favorite Quote "Leadership isn't necessarily about leadership skills. Leadership is about being a better human being." Share your thoughts and questions Join the Community Become a member and stay up to date on the latest and greatest from Hello Moxie, plus get access to exclusive bonus content from our guests with every episode: https://hellomoxie.us/member-registration/ Share your thoughts and questions Join the Community Become a member and to stay up to date on the latest and greatest from Hello Moxie, plus get access to exclusive bonus content from our guests with every episode https://hellomoxie.us/member-registration/

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  Episode #38

  Marta Fernandez, Checking Your Privilege, and Joan of Arc

  Jul 8, 20261h 6mS2

  Host: Nicole Donnelly Guest: Marta Fernandez, HR Generalist and Podcast Host of "HR, Are You Listening?" What does a $4 ice cream cone have to do with privilege? For Marta Fernandez, everything. In this raw, unscripted episode of Hello Moxie, Marta shares the moment she realized she couldn't enjoy that ice cream cone without reckoning with the fact that her neighbor didn't have clean water — and how that single, uncomfortable thought became a lifelong practice she now calls checking your privilege. Marta grew up moving between two worlds in Nicaragua — raised with privilege, but constantly crossing into a very different reality through her mother's private school, which welcomed students regardless of what their families could pay. That upbringing forced her to confront questions most of us spend our whole lives avoiding: How do you hold onto joy when someone else is struggling right in front of you? How do you stop being "the spending machine" for friends who assume you'll always cover the gap? And how do you build humility when people define you by your family's name instead of your own? This isn't a conversation about frameworks or five-step plans. It's a real, unfiltered exploration of guilt, gratitude, boundaries, and the quiet values — empathy, humility, critical thinking — that shape who we become long before we ever set foot in a workplace. 🌟 What You'll Learn The "ice cream cone" moment that changed how Marta sees privilege How to set a boundary with people who expect you to always give more Why gratitude and guilt can coexist — and how to hold both without shrinking Why ignorance has nothing to do with how educated you are How to redefine ambition on your own terms, whether that's building a business or staying home ✨ Marta's Moxie Highlights Learned to say no to being "the spending machine" for her friend group — and to define herself by who she is, not her family's name Holds both privilege and proximity to hardship, and refuses to look away from either Champions humility and service as daily practices, not abstract ideals Believes ambition has no single definition — and that choosing family can be just as courageous as building an empire 💬 Favorite Quote "Ignorance doesn't stop because you're well educated." 📚 About Marta Fernandez Marta is a bilingual HR Generalist with a Master's in Human Resources Management from Georgetown University, and the host of the podcast "HR, Are You Listening?", where she explores workplace lessons through storytelling. 📧 Connect with Marta LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marta-fernandez-/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hrareyoulistening/ HR, Are You Listening?: https://open.spotify.com/show/015g8jepbpq7yNaXnwbubd Share your thoughts and questions Join the Community Become a member and to stay up to date on the latest and greatest from Hello Moxie, plus get access to exclusive bonus content from our guests with every episode https://hellomoxie.us/member-registration/ Share your thoughts and questions Join the Community Become a member and to stay up to date on the latest and greatest from Hello Moxie, plus get access to exclusive bonus content from our guests with every episode https://hellomoxie.us/member-registration/

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  Episode #37

  Rachel Spekman, Her Mom, and Finding Alignment and Doing Work That Lights You Up

  Jun 25, 202641 minS2

  Host: Nicole Donnelly Guest: Rachel Spekman — Career Clarity Coach, Therapist, and Founder of Made for More Coaching What if the stress you're feeling at work isn't burnout — and the fact that you've been calling it that is exactly why nothing has changed? For Rachel Spekman, a career clarity coach and licensed therapist who spent years in the startup world before rebuilding her career from scratch, the answer starts with one honest question: what percent happy are you, really? Because if your answer is somewhere around 30% — you're not alone. And you're not broken. But you do need to tell yourself the truth. In this episode of Hello Moxie, Rachel shares what she's learned from helping 100+ high-performing professionals stop performing happiness at work — and start building careers that actually fit who they are. 🌟 Rachel and Nicole dive into: Why depression and anxiety at work are almost always a values problem — not a personal failing The good hard vs. bad hard framework: the single question that tells you whether your stress is building you or breaking you The three emotional blocks keeping smart women stuck — and the one nobody talks about What Rachel asks every new client that most people can't answer honestly Why the people closest to you might be the thing keeping you most stuck How to know whether you need to leave, pivot internally, or just stop hiding under the covers Rachel also shares the woman who inspires her most — her mom — a deaf woman who scuba dives at 72, redirects groups of 14 people down sewer canals without blinking, and has built her entire life on her own terms. A living example of what it looks like to stop caring what people think and start caring about your own quality of life. This episode is for you if: You've been telling yourself you're just burned out — but something still feels off You're successful on paper and quietly miserable in practice You're ready to stop performing okayness and finally tell yourself the truth about where you are This is the work underneath the work. Not another framework for performing better — but the conversation that helps you come back to who you actually are. It's the Moxie Method in action: from Stillness to Spark, from Spark to speaking your truth out loud. 💡 Memorable Quote "It would have been hard for me to stay. But it was really hard to leave — and let go of the security of it, the prestige, the reputation of it all." — Rachel Spekman ✨ About Rachel Spekman Rachel Spekman is a career clarity coach and licensed therapist who helps high-performing professionals trade soul-sucking careers for soul-aligned work — without sacrificing their income. After three pivots of her own, including leaving a venture capital-facing career to earn her MSW and build a private practice, she founded Made for More Coaching, where she's helped 100+ clients stop dreading Mondays and start building careers that fit who they actually are. 📬 Connect with Rachel Website: madeformorecoach.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rachelspekman Share your thoughts and questions Join the Community Become a member and to stay up to date on the latest and greatest from Hello Moxie, plus get access to exclusive bonus content from our guests with every episode https://hellomoxie.us/member-registration/

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